Conductive nerve test?
 

My feet have been killing me and the Podiatrist is sending me to a Neurologist. They called today to set up an appointment and told me that since I haven't reached my deductible it would be my responsibility for the bill. OK, so how much are we talking about?
She tells me $1200 for the conductive nerve test!

Anyone ever have this done? Any experience with Neurologists?

Not sure if you are having the same test, as it was many years ago.. But, I lost the feeling in part of my foot - turned out to be from a knee surgery. They stuck pins deep into various parts of my lower leg, then applied varying current. Hurt like a MOFO! .... Can you feel this??? Yes, can you feel my fist hitting your face???

They electrocute you to see how high you can jump. Repeatedly.

No experience with a neurologist. I can tell you about a couple of waitresses and a grocery store cashier though.

I had it for my carpal tunnel. They insert a couple of accupuncture like needles at the start and finish of the nerve, then turn on the juice and measure the resistance. It is fast but smarts somewhat. Not an undoable test, just a bit of discomfort.

Good Luck

Nowadays they don't use the needles for nerve conduction velocity (NCV). They're just electrodes on the surface. I have had it done on my arms (carpal tunnel etc.).

The needles are for electromyography, which is another type of test--and it doesn't hurt as bad as I have heard the nerve/needle tests were.

The neurologist who comes to my office every other week (he's here today) charges about $250-300 (cash price) for a lower extremity EMG/NCV.

Jeez, I could fly to LA and have it done cheaper than having it done here!

I've seen three different Podiatrists and so far got three different opinions on what the problem might be. First one said it was bone spurs and wanted to do surgery. Second one said it was Mortons Neuroma and prescribed Neurontin that nearly killed me with the side effects.....and my feet still hurt. The last doc said he thought it was Neuropathy from my description of numbness/pain/burning in both feet. He gave me Meloxicam and the only effect it had was I didn't take a dump for 4 1/2 days!

The feet are getting pretty bad.....gotta do something, just wish I didn't have to blow $1200 right now.

Thanks for all the comments, keep them coming.

Are you in Arkansas or San Pedro? I know a guy in Searcy if the former, in SP and LBC if the latter.

How long have you been having trouble? Describe your symptoms, where exactly does it hurt, when does it hurt, anything make it better or worse? You ever have any back or hip problems? Did these people lay hands on you and examine your feet? The reason I ask is because your diagnoses are sort of all over the place. In my experience, when someone does not understand a nerve problem, they turf it to a neurologist. That may not be the case now, but I am very reticent about ordering NCV because it is not likely to change my plan of treatment.

Bone spur guy is probably a hack wanting to do surgery

I have never prescribed neurontin for a Morton's neuroma, generally go with steroid injection or changes to the shoes.

Did the last guy have any suggestions regarding why you might have neuropathy?



Neuroma will give pain between the toes, usually 3rd and 4th

I had an EMG test done last fall and it was $926 all in between the test, the hospital charge and the doctor's reading fee. The test wasn't bad ... just a series of slight shocks and I couldn't even feel the skin pricks from the sensors.

Depending on what those results indicate you could also be looking at a catscan of your back. In my case the EMG came back negative so I had the scan of my back done and it showed disc issues with L4/L5 (IIRC) which wwere impacting the nerves running down to my feet.

My symptoms were burning/tingling through-out my feet, not just my toes.

Hopefully some physical therapy to strengthen your back and core are all it will take to minimize the pain/discomfort so you can avoid the meds. Also keep an eye on your posture if you sit for extended periods ... I had several "experts" show me how to sit with my back and feet at 90 degrees with my thighs parallell to the ground.

Good luck !

Hi Doc.
I've had foot pain for a long time from working, standing and walking on concrete for over 30 years.
I feel like I'm walking barefoot on sharp gravel. Burning pain is constant, never stops, over the entire foot (both feet). Almost every night after going to bed, I'll be laying there and all of a sudden it feels like someone is cutting my feet off with a saw right in the arch area.
Most recent Dr told me to close my eyes and tell him which foot and what part of the foot he was poking with a sharp pointed thing. I told him right foot next to the big toe. He told me to look.....he wasn't poking my foot anywhere. Next one I said left foot on my heel....he was poking my right foot.

Not sure why he thought Neuropathy. I'm not diabetic, in fact my recent physical- blood tests showed all my numbers were perfect.

And I'm in Arkansas.

Height/weight? Things (ice or heat or stretching your foot and ankle every direction you can imagine) you've tried? If you tried them, were you consistent (2-4x/day) and dedicated over a long (months) period? Foot pain is not fun...but few pains are. Tough to get anything done if you fear having to walk.

The symptoms definitely sound like peripheral neuropathy, and my brain says "diabetes" but your blood sugar is normal? What was your most recent blood sugar reading? (either the A1C test, or the fasting blood sugar test) If it was borderline diabetic, then this could be diabetic if you've been borderline for a while.

Is the worst pain at a certain time of day (night-time?) or when you're doing certain activities (taking a shower, standing on hard ground, etc)?

Like Tobra, I'm not impressed with the podiatrists you've seen so far.

_

i'm with gen, have you had a lab work-up yet?

Have you had a discussion about getting an MRI of the lumbar area and perhaps the C-spine?
There are some things that might show up and correlate with your symptoms.
Hope it's nothing serious and you figure it out soon.

OK...

6'4" 210#
62 years old
Very healthy all my life, no meds, but.....
Bad car wreck @ 18, went through the windshield, hundreds of facial stitches, large skin grafts etc.
Lots of back and neck problems due to the wreck
Physical every year, always no problems
Most recent lab work 2 months ago. Dr did not give me exact numbers but said ALL OK
Feet have hurt for about 10-12 years, progressively worse
I was told that it might be metabolic and could be a vitamin or mineral thing (?).

We went to Rennsport Reunion last year and it was pure torture to walk around Laguna Seca. I probably have 30 pairs of shoes and orthotics ($$$$) and there is no such thing as comfortable shoes.

Miserable.

Same here.

Working on tile floors in a kitchen for 35 years with all the heavy lifting, plus all types of extreme sports have been abusive to my back and feet. Sometimes my feet feel like they are on fire. My lower back always felt like someone was sticking me with a knife. Last year I went to the Doc and was diagnosed with Spondylolysis. I was told that I had fractured my lower vertabrae, probably when I was younger. A couple lower vertebrae have also shifted forward and surgery was recommended.

Long story short.

I skipped surgery, and after all the Cat Scans, MRI's and e-rays had been diagnosed I went to a Physical Therapist and put together a plan. He has pretty much changed the way I feel. I was told to cut out all compression sports like running, skiing, windsurfing etc. He put me on an exercise regime to strengthen my stomach and lower back mussels, I ride a bike now 7 or 8 miles, 2-3 times a week ( and building), and I am very careful about how I twist and turn and bend to pick things up.

Now that the pain in my back is subsiding I tend to notice the burning in my feet more. I soak my feet in ice water 2-3 times a week for a half hour while I watch TV in the evening. That has seemed to help. I also wear a cushioned insole in my shoes and have gotten rubber mats to stand on at work. I was on anti-inflammatory for a while but have since gone to Aleve every morning with breakfast. I also take very hot showers in the morning and run the pulse jets on the shower head while I stretch my back out, Slowly.

So, between being careful, not compressing my spine thru sports or heavy lifting, the exercises, the hot showers, cold foot baths and Aleve, I pretty much have gotten to where I can manage the pain without surgery or major medication. It sounds like a lot of work but it really isn’t, other than stretching in the shower each morning and the Aleve, I mix it up, I don’t go thru all the above routines every day. It’s doing it this way or surgery, and I really don’t want to go there.

The Physical Therapist was the way to go for me. I'll be 59 next year.

I hope it all works out for you.

Yes.
Nerve Conduction Tests.

Didn't have to pay anything..Canadian system..TAXES! Anyway 2 life threatening accidents not my fault whatsoever.
Why should I have to!
I don't really understand what your asking but it is electrocution on a 5% Frankenstein level.
Don't worry about any Labotomy though...unless you complain about bad headaches and memory loss:D